Bar owners from Nakuru East and Nakuru Westhave threatened not to pay taxes if the government will continue to allow Defence Forces Canteen to operate at Nakuru Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK) grounds.
The liquor business persons are a worried lot over what they term is the DEFCO having negative impact on their businesses.
Addressing press in Nakuru on Tuesday, the Bar owners led by their Chairman Mr. Maina Maganjo revealed that many youth have continued to consume liquor at DEFCO Nakuru ASK grounds due to the fact that the liquor is tax free.
The Bar Owners added that some individuals are also liasing with DEFCO management leading to some of the tax free liquor finding way into their bars.
Maganjo claimed that the DEFCO at Nakuru Show ground had also continued to mess the morals in society as under 18 are now consuming alcohol at the facility that seems to lack control over them.
He added that as an association, they have written to relevant authorities over concerns raised, but no action has been taken.
“We will not pay tax until the DEFCO operations are reverted back to Lanet or Gilgil Barracks and not Nakuru ASK grounds,” stated Maganjo.
It should be noted that already through Bar, Hotels and Liquor Traders Association Secretary General Boniface Gachoka, a letter dated November 28, 2024 was written to the County Government of Nakuru and received in December 5, 2025.
Legal team led by E.K Omwanza argue that it is wrong for Bar Owners to be threatened by DEFCO’s tax-free liquor.
He added that they will be taking legal action to ensure businesses thrive.
“We cannot have that one business that is not paying taxes is messing up other businesses that are paying taxes,” he stated.
Sentiments echoed by Secretary Kenya National Federation of Jua Kali Sector Nakuru Asumpta Wangui.
According to Asumpta, if no action shall be taken to shut down DEFCO at ASK grounds Nakuru, then they will rally members to shun paying taxes.
She added that businesses are key to the economy and should be protected from anything that exploits them.
Wangui threatened that if no action is taken then the business persons will gang up and spoke a language that government can hear.
“As business persons we only have one stand that DEFCO at Show ground should be reverted to Barracks. We cannot have military mix with civilian in business competion yet DEFCO’s liquor is tax-free,” she stated.
